Chris Mattes

#65 Florida Launch Faceoff

Hometown: Westfield, NJAlma Mater: Rutgers University

Accolades

2016 MLL All-Star

2011 All-Big East

2011 USILA All-American

Why I Use STX

STX has always been a part of the lacrosse game while I was growing up and were the first products I used when I began to play. They were one the first companies to really focus on taking care of face-off guys. They pursued making the first face-off specific head (The Duel). Seeing that pro-activeness and dedication really attracted me to them.

Related Teams

Chris Mattes's Setup

Q&A

Q. How old were you when you started playing?

A. I started playing when I was in 3rd grade. Baseball got way too boring for me.

Q. Who was your favorite athlete (any sport) growing up?

A. Muhammad Ali

Q. What was your Play Huge moment in your career?

A. Looking back, I would have to say being a part of the 2016 MLL All-Star Game. That has always been a dream of mine so to be able to be a part of that was huge.

Q. What song is always on your pregame play list?

A. Rick Ross – The Devil is a Lie or A$AP Ferg – New Level

Q. What’s your favorite movie?

A. Step Brothers

Q. What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself?

A. I always played multiple sports growing up so I don’t know if I would give it to myself but more to the youth today. Don’t stop playing your other sports and if you don’t play any other, pick one up. I strongly believe today we are too focused on playing one sport (lacrosse) that it is leading to the “burn out” factor as well as injuries. I always loved playing my other sport (soccer). Then when it was time for lacrosse it made me want to play it even more. Not to mention I think the strategies of a lot of other sports transfer over to making you a better lacrosse player.

Q. Who is one person you (past or present) with whom you’d like to have dinner?

A. David Blaine. I love magic and the one on one magic that he does. Would love to pick his brain and have him do some tricks on me.

Q. What’s the one thing you’d like to see changed in your sport?

A. End early recruiting and please stop trying to change the face-off rules every year. Instead, train the referee to enforce the rules already put in place.

Q. Who’s your favorite teammate you’ve ever played with?

A. There are a lot of them. I would say in college, Chris OD (Stealth and Outlaws). The guy was the best leader I have ever played with, he brought it day-in and day-out, on and off the field. In the pros, I would have to say Steven Brooks. I’ve been able to play with him in Florida and he has taught me a lot about the game and life itself.

Q. Who is or was the most influential person in helping you on your way to become a professional athlete?

A. I would have to say my parents. Their support of me since I was a kid has helped and motivated me along the years to be the best I can be. They never forced me to do anything, they have supported my decisions and my career to the fullest, and I cannot thank them enough for that.

Q. Describe your playing style in three words.

A. Fun, Loose, Competitive

Q. What's your favorite exercise or drill to do while you're training and why?

A. Love working on my technique for facing. Rather than going live all the time working on the nuances of my move sets and working on all different ways to exit with the ball.

Q. What’s your favorite pre-game meal?

A. If our game is at night, I always go with a sandwich for lunch from Laspada’s in Boca, then when I wake up from a nap I go with a PB&J along with a juice from Raw Juice Bar.

Q. Tell us your favorite motivational quote.

A. “I run on the road long before I dance under the lights” – Muhammad Ali

Q. If you could play anywhere in the world, where would it be?

A. Thailand…it is the one place I want to travel to and knowing they have a team out there, I would love the opportunity to take a trip to coach/play out there.

From The Blog

Follow Chris

A consistent pregame routine sets you up to play your best. @pbaum15 share his whole pregame routine - from music, to food to superstitions. Click the link in our bio or visit blog.stx.com to see his whole routine.